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Tuesday June 8, 1982
Part VII
Environmental Protection Agency
Polychlorinated Biphenyls {PCBs); Manufacture, Processing, Distribution, and Use in Closed and Controlled Waste Manufacturing Processes; Proposed Rule
0756051 TOWOLDMON0060204
24978
Federal Register / Vol 47, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8,1982 f Proposed Rule*
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[40 CFR Part 761] [OPTS U017A; TSH FRL 2103-7)
Polychlorinated Blphenyfe (PCBs); Manufacture, Processing, Distribution,
and Use In Closed and Controlled Waste Manufacturing Processes
agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
action: Proposed rule.
.
Summary: On April 13,1881. the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit issued an order
requiring the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to undertake a
rulemaking for certain chemical
manufacturing processes that generate
PCBs in low concentrations. In response
to the court's order, EPA is proposing to
exclude the production of PCBs in
closed and controlled waste
manufacturing processes from the
provisions of section 6(e) of the Toxic
Substances Control Act fTSCA), 18
U.S.C. 2805(e). Section 6(e) prohibits the
manufacture, processing, distribution in
commerce, and use of polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs).
.
dates: An informal hearing. If
requested, will be held on August 6,
1882, in Washington. L).U lhe exact
time and location of the hearing will be
available through the industry
.
Assistance Office; which can be* reached
by railing toll free 800-124-9065 or, in
Washington, D.C, by calling 554-1404.
Comments on this proposed rule and
requests to participate in the informal
hearing must be submitted by July 23.
t9a__HI :
adoresses Comments should be
submitted to: Document Control Officer
(TS-793), Office of Pesticide* and Tcodc
Substances. Environmental Protection
Agency. Rm. E-409,401M SL, SW,
Washington, D.C 20400.
j
pom further information contact: Douglas G. Bannerman, Acting Director. Industry Assistance Office (TS-799),
Office of Toxic Substances. Environmental Protection Agency, Rm . E-509,401M St, SW,, Washington. D.C
2046a Toll Free: (800-424-8056); In Washington. D.C: (554-1401); Outside the USA: (Operator 202-554-1104).
SUmCMENTAJIY INFORMATION '
L Reaxfificatioo of 40 CFR Part 7U
Notice of the recodification of 40 CFR Part 761 appears in the Federal Ragjsts* of May 6.1882 (47 PR 18627). Thia proposed rule contains the new designations -
1
1
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dmqpmicm
the likelihood of exposure is so low. Therefore, the Joint motion proposed
r. -- mi im
a that EPA would publish an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR)
r.NNRR mi m Ml TO
requesting comments on the possible exclusion of the production of PCBs in
SmcNob 791.41. these processes from the provisions of
section 6(e).
'
D. Background
. EPA attempted to identify and define specifically these processes where there
Section 6(e) of the Toxic Substancee are negligible public health and
Control Act (TSCA) prohibits the
environmental benefits to be derived
manufacture, processing, distribution In from regulation because the processes
commerce, and use of polychlorinated
present such low risks. Two process
biphenyls (PCBs). However, the statnte enables EPA to promulgate regulations
categories were identified. These are -closed manufacturing nrocee" and
to reduce the Impact of the ban. EPA promulgated regulations, published in
''controlled waste manufacturing
processes." '
~
the Federal Register of May 31.1979 (44
"Closed manufacturing processes"
FR 31514), to implement section 6(e) of were defined as those in which PCBs are
TSCA. The regulations, among other
generated but from which no PCBs are
things, generally excluded from the ben * released. These processes generate
materials containing PCBs in
PCBs within closed reaction equipment
concentrations less than 50 parts per
and the chemical reactions within the
million.
" processes continuously destroy the
The Environmental Defense Fund
PCBa as they are produced.
(EDP) obtained judidal review of the -
"Controlled waste manufacturing
regulations in the U.S. Court of Appeals processes'* were deflned~as processes in
for the District of Columbia Circuit EDP which PCBs are generated but from
challenged the provisions described
whidTPCBs are released only as
above; among others. On October 30,
constituents of wastes that are either
1980, the court invalidated the
regulatory exclusion for concentatians below 50 ppm Environmental Defense
*
incuentea disposed of in EPA* approved landfills, or stored ior later tndaerationor landfilling.
Fund v. EPA. 636 F. 2d 1287. The court
remanded the rule to EPA for further
actioo consistent with the opinion. The
court's decision placed industries that
had relied upon the PCB Ban
Regulations in a difficult position.
Issuance of the court's mandate would
have activated section 6(e)'s brand
prohibitions on the manufacture,
processing, distribution in commerce,
end use of PCBs. The result would be
that many activities in industries
throughout the United States would be
banned.'
.
Accordingly, the parties to the lawsidt
In addition to dealing with closed and controlled waste processes, the February 20 Joint motion also proposed to publish an ANPR requesting information on all other manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, and nee of PCBs in low concentrations. PCBs generated in and released from ' other than doted or controlled waste processes are referred to as "uncontrolled PCBs."
On April 13,1981, the court entered an order in EDP r EPA. in response to the February 28 Joint motion. The text of the
filed a Joint motion (on February 20,
court's order is set forth in the Federal
1961) to seek a stay of the court's
.
mandate. The Joint motion proposed that
during the period encompassed by the -
Register of May 2a 1981 (46 FR 27615). The April 13 order stayed issuance of the court's mandate with respect to
stay: (1) EPA would conduct new
activities relating to PCBa in
rulemaking with respect to PCB*: and (2) concentrations below 50 ppm. Thus, the
industry groups would initiate studies to 50 ppm regulatory cutoff remains in
provide information foT the new
effect fin the duration of the stay, and
rulemaking.
- persons who manufactnra, process,
During discussions which led up to this )oint motion, representatives at
distribute in commerce, and use PCBs in concentrations less than 50 ppm may
some affected Industries stated that * continue these activities during the stay.
some of the processes which prodocs
The order also adopted a plan for
PCBs are designed and operated so that' farther actions by EPA and Industry
no releases of PCBs oocur or that the
poops leading toward new EPA
PCBs formed in the processes are
rulemaking cm the regulation of PCBa in
disposed of appropriately.
- concentrations below 50 ppm. The April
Consequently, virtually no risk to*
19 order required EPA: (1) To publish '
tinmans or the environment is
two ANTE* on developing rules to cover
...nriiwl with such processes became PCBs in concentrations below 60 ppm:
0756052 TOWOLDMON0060205
Federal Eagbter / VoL 47, No. MO / Tuesday, lone & 1982 f Promoted Rales
24977
(2) to promulgate a final rale, within
eighteen montha from the date of the
order (Le., October 13,1982). with
reaped to exduaion of the generation of
PCB* in dosed and controlled waste
manufacturing processes from the
prohibitions of section 6(e)(3). or to -
explain the reasons for not proceeding
with such a rule; and (3) to advise the
court, within eleven months after the
date of the order (Le,, March 13,1982), of
EPA'* plans and schedule for further
action on PCBi in concentrations below
SO ppm generated as uncontrolled PCBs.
On May 20.1981, EPA published two
ANPRs on the 50 ppm regulatory cutoff
(46 FR 27617 and 46 FR 27619). The
ANPRs established bifurcated
rulemaking proceedings with rasped to
PCBs in concentrations below 50 ppm.
The first ANPR announced activities
that EPA.believed may lead to
rulemaking on PCBs generated in dosed
and controlled waste manufacturing
processes. The second ANPR announced
the framework for the Agency's
exploration of the scope of the emblem
presented by PCBs in concentrations
below 50 ppm in other than dosed or
controlled waste processes. In the .
ANPRs, EPA stated that.it needed to
develop a substantia] factual basis to
support rulemaking on these PCBs.
The comment period for both ANPRs
expired on November 181961.
.
Approximately SO public comments
^*Were submitted. The most significant
submission was filed by the Chemical
Manufacturers Assoaation ("CMA"), a
trade assoaation whose membership
indudes many of the nation's prindpal
manufacturers of primary chemicals. As
explained further below, EPA has relied
on CMA's submission to a significant
extent because CMA has collected the
. most comprehensive set of data on the
generation of PCBs in concentrations
below 50 ppm.
*
On March 11,1982, EPA submitted, in
accordance with the April 13,1981 coart
order, a report to the court that .
contained its plans for further regulatory
action on uncontrolled PCBs. In its
report to the court. EPA stated that it .
could not adequately define its plans for
regulatory action for uncontrolled PCBe
until it had a reasonable estimate of the
number of processes that would be
subject to the rulemaking. That number
cannot be determined until EPA has
defined doaed end controlled waste
processes and determined the number of
processes excluded from the provisions
of section 6(e) by the doted and
controlled waste process rulemaking.
Therefore, EPA requested that the court
allow EPA to report on its further plans
for regulatory action on uncontrolled
PCBs following the completion of the rulemaking an dosed and controlled waste processes EPA also requested that the court extend Ha stay of mandats until December 2.1962, to allow EPA time to develop suffidently detailed plans for regulatory action on uncontrolled PCBs after issues hi this rulemaking on doted systems and controlled waste processes are resolved. On April 9,1982, the court granted EPA's request
IIL Summery of die Available Date on Manufacture at PCBs in Low
A. Information Provided by CMA
EPA received about 50 submissions
and comments in response to the ANPR. The Chemical Manufacturers
Association (CMA) submitted the most
comprehensive information to ETA
regarding dosed and controlled waste manufacturing processes. CMA is a
trade association whose membership
consists of nearly 200 companies,
induding some of the nation's largest
chemical manufacturers. CMA
distributed detailed questionnaires to its
membership which were designed to
elidt information on the nature and extent of PCBs produced in ehntrjt . .
manufacturing processes in concentrations under 60 ppm. After
analyzing the data supplied by its
members, CMA submitted its final
report. "A Report of a Survey on the
Inddental Manufacturing. Processing,
Distribution, and Use of Polychlorinated
Biphenyls at Concentrations Below 50
PPM" to EPA. This survey represents a
major portion of the data base for this
rulemaking; therefore, EPA requests
comments concerning thn dntn
contained in the survey.
'
Copies of the CMA survey are
.
available far review in the public
rulemaking record from 8c00 us. to 440
Km, Monday through Friday, eduding lidays, in Room B-10SL ETA. 401M SL 8.W. Washington. D.C. Copies of the CMA survey, are also available for a
fee, by contacting the Industry Assistance Office at (600-424-0065), in
Washington. D.C (544-1404).
CMA found that PCBs are formed hi a wide variety of industrial chemical
processes. The CMA survey suggests
that PCBs can be generated from
virtually any starting hydrocarbon
structure. Indeed. PCB formation
appears to be possible whenever
chlorine end carbon are present in a
reaction vessel at elevated
-
temperatures. These PCBs are formed as
Impurities and byproducts far
manufacturing processes and constitute
only a very small percentage of process
Of 85 respondents to the CMA survey. 28 chemical firms believe that they produce 13.766 pounds of.PCBs per year. These PCBs appear as impurities or byproducts in 135 chemical manufacturing processes at concentrations under 50 ppm. The respondents to the CMA survey reported that 9486 pounds of these PCBs are incinerated. 1,789 pounds are disposed of hr surface waters, 1,376 pounds are disposed of in landfills, 550 pounds are disposed of by ground injection and 275 pounds are disposed of in EPA-approved landfills. The respondents alto reported that approximately 700 pounds of PCBs are contained in the products of the manufacturing processes.
. CMA believes that in this country a large number of processes, perhaps aa many aa several thousand, may generate PCBs in concentrations under 50 ppm as impurities and byproducts in industrial chemical manufacturing processMf However, they believe that most of the pounds of PCBs produced in these low concentrations in all chemical manufacturing processes throughout the United States have been accounted for by respondents to the CMA survey. This Is because CMA believes that respondents to the survey represents a very high percentage of principle chemical producers.
The respondents Identified four processes in which they believe PCBs are generated and continuously destroyed in dosed reaction equipment They Indicated that about 0.7 pound of PCBs are found at any one time in these four processes. The respondents also identified forty processes in which PCBs are produced and are released only as constituents of wastes which are incinerated or disposed of in an EPAapproved landfill Approximately 6,900 pounds of FBCs are reportedly generated In these forty processes. Incineration was defined in the survey questionnaires as Incineration in compliance with "applicable" . regulations. This definition indudes municipal incineration in compliance with local and regional regulations but not necessarily incineration in accordance with EPA's rules for___ disposal of materials containing PCBs at concentrations greater than 50 ppm (43 FR 7150).
B. EPA Estimates ofPCB Generation in Low Concentrations
Since the 85 chemical firms who responded to the survey represents 374 percent of industrial chemical sales, EPA has multiplied the amount of PCBe
0756053
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Federal Register / VoL 47, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8, 1982 / Propoeed Rules
reported In the CMA survey (13,788
pounds) by 2.8 to obtain an estimate of
the total amount of PCBs produced In
concentrations under 50 ppm in all
processes in the United States (i.e,
35,800 pounds). This figure is considered
an upper limit because, as CMA
commented, not all chemical firms
manufacture chemicals from reactions;
many firms conduct formulation only.
Assuming the CMA data are accurate
and. as reported by CMA. 50 percent of
PCBs produced in concentrations under
50 ppm are produced in processes which
meet EPA's initial definitions of closed
and controlled waste processes (as they
appeared in the May 20,1061ANPR),
then up to 18,000 pounds of PCBs per
year could be produced in the United
States in these processes.
.
C Additional Data
While section 8(e) of TSCA generally bans the manufacture of PCBs, it also establishes a mechanism for permitting continued manufacture of PCBs in certain situations. This mechanism is the exemption process, whereby persons may petition the Agency for relief from the PCB ban. Approximately forty petitions for exemption from the section 0(e) ban on the manufacture of PCBs were received by EPA following the publication of the May 31,1878 rule. Data provided in these petitions indicate that about 75,000 pounds of PCBs per year currently are generated in processes in which PCB concentrations at the point of manufacture exceed 50 ppm. In the same way that CMA classified the processes from , respondents to its survey, some of these processes can be classified as processes which do not release PCBs or as processes which release PCBs only as constituents of wastes which are either incinerated or disposed of in EPAapproved landfills. By extrapolating from the CMA data covering processes with PCBs below 50 ppm to these cases (i.e. above 50 ppm), EPA estimates that as much as an additional 38,000 pounds of PCBs per year could be generated in processes where the process in considered a closed process.or a . controlled waste process. H*A does not believe that the percentage of closed and controlled waste processes producing over 50 ppm PCBs will be significantly different from the percentage producing below 50 ppm.
IV. Discussion of the Proposed Rule '
A. Overview of the Rule
Federal courts have recognized the Mde minimis" exception to legislative mandates. Although the court in EDPr
EPA overturned portions of the
Agency's PCB regulations, it
nevertheless noted that administrative
agencies have the power "inherent in
most statutory schemes, to overlook
that In
.y fairly
be considered de minimis." 838 F-2d -
1283. Courts and agencies should be
reluctant to apply a statute literally in
pointless expenditure of effort where
regulation would yield a gain of trivial
or no value.
In this rule, EPA Is proposing to
exclude from the requirements of section
6(e) the manufacture, processing,
distribution in commerce, and nee of
PCB* created in closed manufacturing
processes and controlled waste
manufacturing processes, as they are
defined by EPA in this proposed rule.
The basis of this proposed action is that
EPA has determined that these
processes present de minimis risk to
humans and the environment The
proposed rule also requires that the
persons who qualify for this exclusion
and wish to take advantage of it certify
that they qualify and maintain records
of the basis for their determination.
This proposal does not mean that the
Agency believe* that dosed and
.
controlled waste processes are
necessarily the only situations which
present de minimis risks. In future'
rulemakings, EPA will consider other
types of processes which may also
present de minimis risks. As discussed
in "Background", EPA is developing a
plan for rulemaking activities on other
than dosed andcontrolled waste
processes. EPA intends to consider
these other procets situations and make
a determination on the most appropriate
regulatory approach. Regulatory options
for other than dosed or controlled waste
processes will tndude exduding other
de minimi* risk situations identified at
that time. EPA intends to submit the
plan for dealing with other than dosed
and controlled waste processes to the court on November 1.1982,
During the course of discussions
among ERA EDF, and industry immediately after the court's decision,
doted manufacturing processes and controlled waste manufacturing
processes were identified as probably
presenting negligible risks. From the
definitions of these process types, it
logically follows that if no PCBs are
released from a procets or If PCBs are
released only to wastes that are
destroyed or otherwise properly .
disposed oL then the exposure and risk
to humane and the environment from
these processes must be extremely small
and untSeasurapie. There would be no
benefit from regulating the processes
under section 8(e) since there could be
no means of determining whether any regulatory actions could actually reduce human or environmental exposure. .
The practical application of this concept requires an understanding of the way chemical processes work. Chemical manufacturing processes are generally made up of a series of unit operations. Each unit operation causes chemical and/or physical changes In the material passing through the process. These changes are brought about by the chemical reactions or various types of physical manipulations that are never one hundred percent effective or complete.
In some processes which manufacture PCBs in low concentrations, virtually all the PCBs are destroyed in the process or are drawn off In a waste stream. However, there inevitably will be at least a few molecules of PCBs in every product or effluent that exits the process. Therefore. PCBs will be present in very low concentrations in products of these manufacturing processes. Since PCBs will be present in products (at very low concentrations), EPA must also address the processing, distribution in commerce, and use of these PCBs in this rulemaking.
To establish a workable definition of processes subject to this exclusion, it is necessary for EPA to deflna. in a practical sense, the absence of PCBs in reteasgsto the envfrfinment from these processes. Specifically, EPA has to establish how the absence of PCBs will be defined in air emissions, water effluents, products, and wastes from closed processes; and how the absence of PCBs will be defined in air emissions, water effluents, and products from controlled waste processes. Further, it is necessary for EPA to determine appropriate methods for disposal of process wastes from controlled waste processes to insure that PCBs will not be released to the environment from disposal operations.-
Therefore, after evaluating ways for determining the absence of PCB* in various releasee, EPA proposes to apply thin exclusion to: (1) PCBs generated in processes which have- no qrantifishU
releases of PCBs (IT EPA's specified analytical technique were used) to products, air emissions, water effluents, or process wastes (closed processes); and. (2) PCBs generated in processes which hy nn qnsnHfiahlf reltaitt of
PCBs (if EPAs specified analytical technique were used) to products, sir emissions, or water effluents, and all . other PCBs are disposed of in an EPA-r approved incinerator, or in an EPA* \
approved landfill or stored for such J disposal in accordance with certain J
0756054 TOWOLDMON0060207
Federal Busier / YeL V, No. 150 f Ttiesdwy, June 8, J3S2 / Proposed Rules
34979
specified criteria (contrailed waete '
processes).
Bated on tSeOdA data. DA
estimates that ^ to 5MM Poamda of
puts per ytms cm^d be axuraptod from
the provisions and prohibitions of
section 6(e) By this exclusion. ead that
on the order of several tbonaand .
individual processee could be permitted
to operate unregulated by sectioc 6(e).
These estimates are derived from the
available dale on proceeet which meet
the definitions of closed and eontioUed
waste processes as they appeared in the
May 20,1061ANPR. The estimates ere
expected to be upper limits, because this
proposed rule defines closed
manufacturing processes and controlled
waste manufacturing processes in a
more precise manner than they were
defined in the May 20,1061 ANPR (these
definitions are discussed under IVJJ. of
this preamble). EPA is proposing to
revise its definitions from those used la
the ANPR because comments indicate
that the previous definitions of closed
and controlled waste processes were too
vague and open to differing
:
interpretations. Thus, some processes
categorized by CMA as dosed and
controlled waste processes may not
meet the definition of a dosed or
controlled waste process as proposed in
this rule.
.
This exclusion woohl permit the '
future generation of larger quantities of
PCBs as impurities and byproducts in
closed and controlled waste processes
than are currently produced. However,
EPA does not believe that the
promulgation of this ride wffl result in a
dramatic increase in the production of'
PCBs in dosed and controlled waste
processes because there is no known
incentive for such an increase, as PCBs
are formed as impurities and byproducts
in very low concentrations and are not
produced as commercial products.
EPA is developing as enforcement
strategy and compliance monitoring
program to help to insure that only
processes which qualify for this
exclusion ednaDy operate unregulated
under section 6(e). In addition, EPA
intends to conduct periodic audita to .
monitor the effectiveness of this ride.
The purpose of conducting a regulatory
evaluation (or *ndit)ts to determine if
the rule is accomplishing its objectives.
EPA invites comments oa the seed far
such a program.
Operators of PCB-genentiag V
processes who have determined that
their processes are closed or controlled
waste processes, as defined by EPA in
this proposed rule, and who want to
take advantage of this exclusion an
also required rjrnfv~that thv meet
the exclusion, keep a record of the basis
far the da toi faction, and make records
and data available for review fay EPA
upon rt qarst gA is act proposing in
this rale to ^mcifcaHy Qit
monitoring of PQ3 levels in releases
from these processes or ft* sahesittsl to
EPA of date sn PCB lands ia nlnim as
conditions far qualifying isr tho
excl--ion (see ****'-"**'--* wmder IVjG. of
this prerarilel. Manuisg*TM-- Wve A
option of
theoretical *
PCB levels fa rejc
processes qualify tr
to qualify, manufactures i demonstrate that PCBs would not ba quantifiable ta releases to other than
controlled wastes if ths analytical
technique specified in 176L62 were
used. This technique Is capillary ges
chromatography coupled to aa electron
impact mass spectrometer (CGC/EIMS). EPA is developing guidelines to assist
mnauiachiren in nwlrinf their
determinations of whether processes are closed or controlled waste processes.
The guidelines developed by EPA will
address how to conduct a theoretical
analysis and the needed sampling'
frequency and the seed for
representative sampling rf process
streams if actual monitoring at PCB
levels is undertaken. In addition, these
guidelines will identify the type at
quality assurance and quality central procedures which should bo developed
aa an integral part of any program which
involves actual monitoring at PCB
levels. EPA will follow the pifaUttn--
when enforcing this rale. EPA expects
that these guidelines will be cverieble
during the public comment period for this rale, and their availability will be
announced in al separate Federal
Register notice..
'
In judytog whtW Aa pmpnssri
definitions of closed menufartiaiag
processes and controlled waste
maaafactiirttm processes qualified ae da witfflmts situations. g^~rnfwkVrnri
three factors: (1) The quantity of PCBs that is Mlroly in rriea*nd~ta> the
environment from Hip-- pen----; (2)
the potential maadtude of exposure and
tbrfrequency of exposure to fOtha these process**; anti (3) the tieftafito fronrregulating [betejprocesse*. La. tbs
likely reoecnons u exposers to PCBs
thatmlghnetedl if these-Processes were reguterjtfuaoer sa&iTM rpa *Jjo
considered whether the exch^*"" "f
the | ~~
rasonable i
TbeeValuetion of the issues sad
factors described above, the basis tar
EPA't findings, discussions of other
options considered by EPA. and EPA's formal conclusion that these processes,
as defined by EPA, pose de minimis
risks to public health and the environment follow.
B. Closed and Controlkd Waste Processes--Definitional hsues
L Defining the absence ofPCBs in
products, wastes, emissions and
effluents. There are two general
approaches the Agency could take to
specify how the absence of PCB* ia to be
determined In air emissions, water
effluents, products, and wastes.
First EPA could select a regulatory
cutoff for air emissions, water effluents,
products, and wastes at a level where it
believe* PCBs cannot be practically
detected at any lower concentrations.
Under this approach, industry wankl be
responsible far selecting analytical
methods capable of detecting PCBs at
the Agency's selected cutoffs. EPA might
give some guidance to industry
regarding analytical procedures.
Second. EPA could specify the
analytical methods and procedures to be
used to determine the absence of PCBs.
IfPCBs were absent from adl releases to '
air, water, and products (and wastes for
closed processes), using EPA's methods
and procedures, the process wonid be
eligible for exclusion. Under this
approach, EPA could give some general
guidance concerning the PCB
concentrations it expects its procedures
to be capable of detecting.
EPA is proposing the second
approach, that of establishing an
analytical technique. S'A chose this
approach for several reasons. The -w
Agency believes that the choice of
analytical methods is one of the major
sources of variability when attempting
to detect PCBs. During the fall of 1981.
CMA conducted a round robin
experiment in which five different
samples of material from processes
.
which manufacture PCBs as a byproduct
were analyzed by eight different
laboratories using a total of ten different
analytical methods. The round robin
experiment shows considerable
variability in the results obtained by the
ten different methods. EPA believes that
specifying the analytical technique will
eliminate one of the sources of this
variability.
EPA also believes that specifying a
method is preferable to specifying a
cutoff because the difficulty of analyzing
products andwastes will vary .
considerably among processee. If EPA
specified a numerical cutoff tame
companies would be able to easily
detect PCBs ia their process streams
below the cujpff sod other companies
might have extreme difficulty detecting
PCBs at the cutoff. In this regard, a
numerical 5utoff could be considered
0756055
TOWOLDMON0060208
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Federal Register / Vol. 47, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8, 1982 / Proposed Rules
arbitrary. Specifying an analytical
procedure mitigates this problem.
The analytical system most often used
to monitor PCBs includes a gas
chromatograph with a suitable detector.
The detector response is converted to an
electrical signal which is recorded on a
strip chart and the quantity of material
present can be determined by measuring
the area under the curve on the strip
chart When only the carrier gas is
passing the detector, the detector
generates a small, slightly variable,
electrical signal referred to as
"background" or "noise." Detecting and
confirming the presence of PCBe
depends on the analyst's ability to
measure an increase in the recorded
electrical signal above this noise.
The lowest concentration of a
substance that aa analytical process can
detect is referred to aa the limit of
detection (LOD). A commonly used
standard is that an LOD should be
based on a ratio of at least three
between the average magnitude of the
electrical signal from the sample and the
standard deviation of the electrical _
signal from the background. This is
called the signal-to-noise ratio.
The lowest concentration of a
substance that an analytical process can
reprodudbly quantify with* a calculated
level of precision is referred to as the
limit of quantification (LOQ). A
commonly used standard is that an LOQ
should be based on a signal-to-noise
ratio of at least ten.
At concentrations near the LOD, It is
possible to detect that some chemical
compoimd that might be a PCB is
present, but it may be impossible to
confirm its identity. False negatives and
false positives are common. A PCB
concentration at or near the LOQ may
be needed to confirm the Identity of the
chlorinated biphenyL For this reason,
EPA proposes that the absence of PCBe
be defined as a concentration of PCBs
less than the LOQ for the proposed
analytical methods. This establishes aa
easily enforceable condition for Judging
eligibility as a closed or controlled
waste process. *
'
EPA is faced with the problem at
deciding the level of sophistication that
should be used an analytical techniques;
As more sophistication is required for .
measuring PCBs in very low
concentrations, the cost of analysis
Increases and the availability of
facilities and equipment to conduct
analyses decreases. Because
determining the absence of PCBs In
products, air releases, and water
releases is critical under this exclusion,
the analytical methods selected and
referenced by EPA for quantifying PCBs
in these media need to be readily
available, have a cost that is reasonable micrograms per liter for one liter of
relative to the environmental risks of
waste water, and 10-100 micrograms per
PCB exposures, result in sufficiently
100 grama (0.1-1 ppm) in a 100 gram
reproducible data, and have adequate
organic process or product stream.
sensitivity.
EPA considered a number of
The total amount of unquantified PCBs which could be released from a
techniques for extraction, cleanup, and - process will vary, depending on the
determination of PCBa in samples. The number of specific isomers present in a
analysis is extensive and is therefore
particular sample. For example, if a
not reproduced here. It is contained in
product contains ten different isomers,
the support document, "Methods of
present at concentrations slightly below
Analysis for Incidentally Generated PCBs-Literature Review and Preliminary Recommendations," which is available
1 ppm. up to 10 ppm PCBs could be
released in this product and yet be unquantifiable by EPA's specified
for review and comment
'
The proposed method, outlined in
I 761.82 and described in "Methods of
Analysis for Incidentally Generated
PCBs-Literature Review and Preliminary
Recommendations," does not ose
specific extraction protocols or cleanup
techniques, but rather, allows the
individual laboratory to develop the
necessary procedures. This Is because
these procedures are media dependent
EPA is, however, specifying the method
of analysts it will use in enforcing this
exclusion. The method specified by EPA
la capillary gas chromatography ooupled
to an electron impact mass spectrometer
(CGC/EIMS). CGC/EIMS systems are
readily available. CGC/EIMS is cost-
effective for multimedia analysis since
separation and cleanup procedures for
each media will ultimately provide an
extract compatible with CGC/EIMS
systems. While the reproducibility of the
specified method remains to be
documented for PCBs, available data
from the analysis of other compounds
suggests that this method does provide
reproduable data. Further, CGC/EIMS
does provide confirmatory evidence for
PCBs, if present, at a moderate cost and
at an acceptable level of sensitivity (see
below). EPA expects the method to
supply reliable data of known qqality if
users implement an appropriate and
documented quality assurance program.
The sensitivity of the EPA specified
method has been estimated by EPA and
is discussed below. The class of PCBa is
method. Similarly, if a product contains
70 isomers at concentrations slightly
below 1 ppm, up to 70 ppm PCBs could
be released in this product EPA does
not anticipate that samples will
frequently contain greater than 70
isomers. Rather. EPA expects that in
most cases samples will contain
considerably leas than 70 isomers.
EPA has considered other detection
systems such as electron capture
detectors (ECD) and negative ion
chemical ionization mass spectrometry
(N1QMS). ECD was found to be very
sensitive, readily available and of
moderate cost It is, however,
inappropriate because it does not
.
provide confirmatory evidence that the
residues detected are PCBs, and not
other halogenated organics that are
likely to be present in many samples.
N1QMS was found to provide
confirmatory evidence, but it is
inappropriate due to high cost and
limited availability.
EPA believes that its approach to
analyzing for PCBs satisfies all the-
requirements of an acceptable method.
EPA requefts comments on this
proposed approach, especially in the
areas of confirmability, sensitivity, cost
and availability.
2. Other options considered by EPA
for defining the absence ofPCBs in
emissions, effluents, products and '
wastes, (i) "No quantifiable" PCBs. EPA
also considered defining the absence of
made up of 209 individual chemical
PCBs as no quantifiable PCBs in air -
compounds. Individually referred to as chlorinated biphenyls. Using EPA's
releases, water releases, products, or wastes using any available analytical
referenced method, each separate
technique. This option was not selected
resolvable peak or a gas chromatograph principally because of the uncertainty it
may represent a single chlorinated
would cause in the regulated community
biphenyl, or it may represent all of a
and problems in assuring compliance. In
group of chlorinated biphenyls.
the absence of specified analytical
CGC/EIMS is capable of quantifying procedures or specific numerical limits,
PCBs at the level of ten hanograms per a requirement for "no quantifiable
resolvable gas chromatographic peak
PCBs" in air releases, water releases,
(see support document, "Rationale for
products, and wastes would result in the
Estimate of Level of Quantitation for
use of many different procedures with
GC/MS" for discussion). Per peak, this vastly different quantification limits.
level roughly corresponds to an average This is particularly true for products and
of 1-10 micrograms per cubic meter for waste streams where the difficulty of
ten cubic meters of stack gas, 10-100
analysis varies more than in the case for
0756056
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24981
til or water. In addition, state-of-the-art environment. Since EPA is proposing to as they appeared in the May 20.1981
limits of quantification for PCS* will - exclude controlled waste manufacturing ANPR. An upper estimate from CMA
change over Him with technological
processes from tbs provisions of section data and CMA and. EPA assumptions
innovation; thus, a floating limit would 0(e) based on the de minimis risk
" about the data (see unit HI) suggests that
occur. All of these factors would hinder principle, EPA must be reasonably
up to 56,000 pounds of PCBs per year
uniform implementation and
confident that the wastes from
could be generated in these processes.
enforcement of the rale.
controlled waste processes are disposed In this rule, EPA is proposing to define
(ii) Not spedficolly excluding dosed . of in a manner which will result in
closed and controlled waste processes
manufacturing processes. EPA
negligible environmental contamination. by specifying the absence of PCBs in
considered excluding closed processes Therefore, EPA is proposing to specify releases and specifying appropriate
only if all process wastes were
acceptable methods of disposal for
incinerated, disposed of in an ESA-
wastes from controlled waste processes.
approved landfill, or stored for later .
EPA is proposing that eligibility for
incineration or landfilling. The reason
exclusion as a controlled waste process
EPA considered this alternative is that it requires iprtnpwitinn by a facility
has been suggested that it may be
' approved under | 76170, landfilling in a*
particularly difficult to identify
landtiil approved unoer 178175, or
universally applicable analytical
storage-for Incineration or landfilling in
methods for waste streams.
comrrttHgce'witn the criteria specified in
The CMA survey indicates that only | 761.65(b)(1).
about 3 percent of the processes
' . The ui tails speufied in f 781.70 .
Identified by its members were closed
require that the incinerator used for
processes. Consequently, EPA believes destruction of PCBs be approved by the
that if this approach were taken, no
EPA Regional Administrator and that it
more than a few hundred individual
meet certain standards related to
processes would be affected nationwide. effia'ent combustion. Incineration in
This option was not selected because compliance with these standards has
EPA concluded that reasonable ____ been shown by extremely sensitive tests
analytical procedures for detecting PCBs to result in essentially no release of
in waste streams could be established PCBs to the atmosphere.
.
and that manufacturers utilizing closed
The criteria specified in f 781.65(b)(1)
processes should be able to benefit from for the storage of PCBs require that -
the exclusion without having to
storage facilities meet standards
incinerate or landfill wastes possibly
including adequate flooring with
containing no PCBs.
continuous curbing, no drain valves or
. EPA requests comments on die
floor openings, and construction of
alternatives presented in this section
floors and curbing with impervious
and any other alternatives that may be materials.
appropriate. EPA specifically invites
EPA already has in effect a Disposal
comments and data on the extent to
and Marking Rule (43 FR 7150), which
which this proposal will affect persons requires PCBs in concentrations over 50
involved in the manufacture, processing, ppm to be disposed of in accordance
distribution in commerce, ana use of
with the criteria prescribed under
PCBs. EPA is particularly interested in ii 781.70,78175, and 78185. These are
receiving comments on the approach
the same disposal criteria being
selected, i.e., to specify analytical
proposed for controlled waste
techniques for quantifying PCBs in
processes. Consequently, this proposal
process streams.
of requiring stricter criteria for disposal
3. Determining appropriate methods of wastes than was implied in the '
for disposal. The May 20,1881 ANPR
definition of controlled waste process in
defines acceptable methods of handling the ANPR will effect only persons using
wastes from controlled waste processes processes which release PCBs to waste
as incineration, disposal in EPA-
streams at concentrations between the
approved chemical waste landfills, and limit of quantification and 50 ppm.
storage for such incineration or
EPA invite* comments and data on
landfilling. An EPA-approved chemical . die extent to which this proposal or
methods of disposal. Therefore. EPA anticipates that fewer processes may actually qualify for exclusion than was suggested by EPA calculations based on the CMA data and extrapolations from those data to the entire chemical industry. EPA anticipates that, based on current production, less than 56,000 pounds of PCBs per year would actually be excluded from the provisions of section 6(e) under this proposed . exclusion.
It is theoretically impossible to preclude the release of some PCBs from ' manufacturing processes in which PCBs are generated. Therefore, extremely small quanitites of PCBs will be released ' from closed and controlled waste processes to the environment, as free PCBs, contained in air emissions, water effluents, wastes, and products. Actual environmental releases from products are expected to be even less, since the PCBs in many products are bound in solid matrices (i.eM paints and polymers). Although wastes from controlled waste processes will contain higher levels of PCBs, the proposed requirements for handling these wastes will prevent significant releases to the environment
Workers may be exposed to PCBs that are produced in closed and controlled waste manufacturing processes through a variety of activities involving manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, and use. Exposures may occur through: (1) Direct handling of products, wastes, or other materials containing low level PCBs, (2) handling of containers for these materials; (3) maintenance of equipment and (4) handling of laboratory samples containing PCBs.
EPA evaluated occupational exposure
waste landfill is a facility approved
alternate requirements for incineration, to PCBs by first identifying six generic
ft under 176175. However, EPA did not. landfilling, and storage will affect
activities which are likely to occur
specifically define ''incineration'' or
persons involved in the manufacture,
during routine operations in chemical
"storage for Incineration or landfilling." processing, distribution in commerce
manufacturing plants, and then
After further consideration, EPA .
and use of PCBs.
calculating the anticipated exposure to
f
believes that additional clarification of
the acceptable methods of disposal is needed under the definition of a controlled waste manufacturing process.
. C The Likely Magnitude ofReleases of PCBS and Exposure To PCBs From Closed and Controlled Waste Processes
PCBs from these activities. These activities are: (1) The sampling of process streams, (2) the cleaning of reactors, (3) removing spent filters, (4)
.
Certain methods that may meet the
1.Routine operations. As discussed
repairing equipment (5) removing still
general definitions of "incineration" and earlier, CMA speculates that many
bottoms, and (6) handling, storage and
"storage for incineration or landfilling" processes may meet the definitions of
loading of products. EPA anticipates
could result in releases of PCBs to the
closed and controlled waste processes that the handling, storage and loading of
0756057
TOWOLDMON0060210
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Fedora! Register / Vol. 47. No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8, 1962 / Proposed Rules
products In a continuous operation will
result In the lowest levels of exposure,
while cleaning reactors in a batch
operation will result in the highest levels
of exposure (see support document
entitled "Occupational Exposure to
Inadvertently Produced PCBe" for more
details).
Industry representatives have
commented that the chemical industry
employs proper protective clothing and
good management practices to protect
workers from exposora to process
components. Safety glasses, gloves, and
long-sleeved shirts were reported as
being generally used when contact with
a toxic or corrosive chemical may occur.
In addition, comments were received
that indicated that additional protection,
including splash goggles, shields, gloves,
and protective outer clothing is usually
required during waste handling
operations. EPA has concluded that
exposure levels during routine
operations are not expected to result in
significant exposure because of
measures already instituted in the
industry to reduce exposures.
EPA specifically requesta additional
comments on exposure to PCBs,
particularly the degree of absorption at
PCBs that might occur during routine
operations in chemical manufacturing
plants.
'
2. Accidental and unplanned releasee.
Accidental releases may occur when
' pipes, lines, or hoses rupture.
Unintentional spills can occur during the
transfer and transport of products and
wastes. These unplanned events may
expose unprotected workers, the general
public, and fish and wildlife to higher
PCS levels than routinely occur during
normal plant operations. EPA has little
information from industry indicating the
frequency of unplanned events, and die
likely releases during these events.
However, industry representatives have
contended that scheduled maintenance .
activities and process engineering and
design considerations mfntmtv me
potential for accidental release*.
Comments indicated that it Is in the best
interest ofcompanies to work to .
minimize the loss of process components
from accidental releases, because large
or frequent accidental releases would
seriously harm production and
profitability. EPA'i Independent
exposure assessment confirms this, as
major accidents (resulting in large
releases or process componete) are
expected to be rare (on the order of onco
every sixty yean per facility).
EPA requests comments and data ok
(1)The types of accidental releases that
might occur and their frequency. (2) the
likelihood of releases of PCBs to the
environment from such accidents, and
(3) measures being taken by Industry to prevent accidents or to control releases and exposures when accidents do occur.
D. Conclusion: Processes Covered by This Pule Present de Minimis Risks .
TSCA section 6(e) specifically bans
the manufacture, processing,
.
distribution in commerce, and use of
PCBs in other than a totally enclosed
manner. The adverse effects of PCBs
were described in considerable detail ia
various documents which were part of
the rulemaking record for the May 31,
1979 rule. While substantial comments
have been submitted to EPA rebutting
the conclusions made' with respect to the
toxidty of PCBs, the Agency does not
agree that this information proves that
PCBs do not pose any serious risks to
human health or the environment. EPA
believes however, that the risks posed
from exposure to PCBs are reduced aa
exposure to PCBs is reduced; and. that
an unmeasurable level of exposure to
PCBs can be considered to pose da
minimi* risks to public health and tho
enviroameat
To be eligible for exclusion from the
provisions of section 6(e). processes
most meet EPA's definitions of closed or
controlled waste manufacturing
processes This means that releases of
PCBs in products, air emissions, and
water emissions an not quantifiable if
EPA's specified analytical technique
were used. For dosed manufacturing
processes, releases of PCBs In wastes
also must not be quantifiable by EPA's
specified analytical technique. EPA abo
is proposing to require wastes from
controlled wsste processes to bo
disposed of by incineration In a facility
approved under f 761-70; landfilMng in a
landfill approved under 761.75; or
stored for incineration or landfilling ia
compliance with the standards and
requirements prescribed In
| 761.85(b)(1).
ftedadmg releases of PCBs above the
limits of quantification will Insure that
only negligible releases of PCBs occv.
Further, disposal of wastes hi
compliance with the above standards
will prevent the release of PCBs in
anything but negligible quantities. EPA
does not believe that any significant
harm will result from releases of PCBs to
the environment or exposure to humane
at unmeasurable levels. Since the
releases are not measurable by
reasonably available methods, 11 would
be Impossible to determine whether
regulation hed any effect on reducing
the releases. Also, EPA does not know
of any reasonable way to regulate
releases of PCBs below measurable
levels in order to reduce the releases
further. Consequently, there would be
no gain In protecting the environment or public health by attempting to regulate unmeasurable levels. Finally, EPA's upper estimate of the amount of PCBe which currently would be excluded from the prohibitions and requirements of section 6(e) by this exclusion is 56,000 pounds of PCBs per year. Of the tiny fraction of these PCBs that are not destroyed in the process or handled as a controlled waste, some will be bound in products, further limiting the actual quantity of free PCBS that are likely to enter the environment Although this proposed rule would not prevent these amounts from increasing, EPA is not aware of any reason why these quantities should increase significantly. It Is possible that some companies may institute engineering modifications to their processes to qualify for the exclusion. This would, however, benefit public health by reducing overall releases of PCBs to the environment The amount of PCBs expected to be released annually from these excluded processes Is only a tiny fraction of the extimated 150.000,000 pounds of PCBs that currently exist in the environment as freePCBa.
Therefore, EPA finds that if releases of PCBs from closed and controlled wastes processes (excluding controlled wastes) are unquantifiahle by EPA's specified analytical techniques, and controlled wastes are disposed of aa specified by EPA, then these processes represent de minhwi* risk situations and should not be subject to the prohibitions and other provisions of section 6(e).
& Determination ofNo Unreasonable Risk
EPA has concluded that there would be no measurable benefits to public health or the environment by regulating closed and controlled waste processes (as defined In this rule) under section 6(e) of TSCA. Therefore, as previously noted, these processes are eligible for
tnrrlwimi ihiXpt tKes Am mwiimii
principle. Nonetheless, the Agency has also considered whether closed and controlled waste processes present an unreasonable risk to human health or . the environment To determine whether a risk la unreasonable. EPA balances the probability that harm wifi occur from the activity against the advene effect on society from regulation, hi making a determination of whether aa unreasonable risk to present from theeq^, processes, EPA considered the following factors
1. The effects of PCBs on human health and the environment.
2. The magnitude of PCB exposure to humans and the environment
0756058 TOWOLDMONOQ60211
Federal Register /`VoL <7, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8, 1982 / Proposed Rules
24983
S. The benefits from products
commented that research programs to
containing PCBs, the availability of
study ways to reduce incidental PCB
eubstitutes, and the ability to prevent
formation are very costly and have met
the formation of PCBs.
with limited success. CMA provided an
4. The e&tfomic impact resulting from' example of a process adjusted to reduce
the rule upon the national economy,
formation of PCBs to below SO ppm, and
mall business, technological
estimated that the cost of this project
innovation, the environment and public was on the order of $800,000.
'
health.
Although TSCA does provide a .
After considering all available
mechanism for obtaining relief from the
information, within the context of the
total baa of PCBs, industry has
factors listed above. EPA finds that
commented that the statutory process
excluding closed and controlled waste . for obtaining an exemption is
processes presents no unreasonable risk unworkable for the many operations
to human health or the environment
that manufacture, process, or distribute
This finding is baaed on the reasons
in commerce PCBs in low
discussed below.
' concentrations. Since TSCA requires a
1. Health and environmental effects company to obtain an wnnl
and exposure to PCBs. EPA has
exemption industry representatives
determined that exposure to PCBs from indicated that the uncertainty
dosed and controlled waste processes is associated with knowing whether they
so low aa_to be reasonably
would be able to continue operations
unquantifiable. Since the risks posed
and the large cost of submitting petitions
from exposure to PCBs decrease as
each year would be a burden A quick
levels of exposure decrease. EPA
survey of companies which filed
believes that exposure to PCBs at
. exemptions with EPA in the past
nonquantillable levels from dosed and showed that the annual costs of
controlled waste processes gases de
developing the information required by
minimis risks to public health and the
an exemption petition plus the cost of
environment
filing the petition may cost between
2. Benefits ofproducts generated in
$16,000 and $128,000 per proeesf.
closed and controlled waste processes, Although EPA does not lmow precisely
the availability ofsubstitutes, and ' how many processes meet the definition
economic impacts. If the ban on all
of closed and controlled waste
manufacturing, processing, distribution processes, if 500 processes were eligible,
in commerce, and use of PCBs was made the avoided cost of submitting petitions
effective for all dosed and controlled
for exemption could range from $8
waste processes, there could be a major million to $63 million per year. These
disruption of the chemical industry and estimates will vary depending upon the
several other industries in the United
actual number of processes eligible for
States. Since there could be a large
the exclusion. Administering exemption
number of controlled waste processes, petitions for closed and controlled
an immediate ban could cost billions of waste processes could require extensive
dollars. An immediate ban could disrupt EPA resources.
-the manufacture of a wide variety of
This rule has no significant negative
products induding paints, varnishes,
economic impact since it imposes no
enamels, agricultural chemicals,
additional burdens but rather, avoids .
adhesives and sealants, printing ink,
some of the burdens imposed an
.
plastic materials, drugs, and soaps and industry by the prohibitions of section
cosmetics. Such products have great
6(e). As discussed earlier, EPA is
societal value, and a ban of this nature proposing in this rule to require
would create great hardship for the public and industry due to the
manufacturers who operate closed and controlled waste manufacturing
unavailability of these products and
processes and who desire exclusion to
would have a severe economic impact certify that their processes are closed or
Should such processes by subject to the controlled waste processes. EPA is
section 6(e) ban, all manufacturers
proposing to give manufacturers the
utilizing dosed and controlled waste
option of conducting a theoretical
manufacturing processes which generate analysis to demonstrate that PCBs
.
PCBs as byproducts would be required would not be quantifiable by EPA'a
to conform with the prohibitions and
specified technique in releases other
requirements of section 6(e). Industry
than to controlled wastes, or of actually
has commented that in general,
monitoring releases for PCB levels. EPA
substitutes are not available for
estimates the cost of certification
products contaminated with low level
without actual monitoring of PCB levels
PCBs at the same or equivalent costs as in releases to be on the order of S&4JOO
PCB contaminated products, and that
per process per year. EPA estimates the
processes cannot be modified to prevent cost of conducting a theoretical analysis
the formation of any PCBs. CMA has
to be on the order of $800 per process. If
actual monitoring of PCB levels is undertaken, using the EPA-spedfied method. EPA estimates the costs of monitoring to range between $ann and $2,000 per sample. Total costs per process range from $1,200 to $72,000, depending on the frequency of sampling and the actual costs of testing (see. support document entitled "Cost Analysis for the Proposal to Exclude Closed and Controlled Waste Processes from the PCB Ban" for details). This exclusion substantially reduces the cost to industry associated with the'expense and problems of annually developing, analyzing, and preparing petitions for exemption from the section 6(c) ban and the cost of EPA of processing these petitions.
F. Relationship of the ProposedRule To Other PCB Rules
1. Disposal and marking rule. The Disposal and Marking Rule, published in the Federal Register of February 17,1978 (43 FR 7150). as Part 761 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, requires that when PCBs and PCB Items are removed from service, disposal be in accordance with specific criteria. Briefly, PCBs in concentrations below 50 ppm are not required to be disposed of in any spedal manner; liquid PCBs in concentrations between 50 ppm and 500 ppm are required to be disposed of in an Incinerator which complies with certain standards, or in a chemical waste landfill or in a high efficiency boiler, non-liquid PCBs are required to be disposed of in an incinerator which complies with certain standards or in a chemical waste landfill; and liquid PCBs in concentrations at or above 500 ppm are required to be disposed of in an incinerator which complies with certain standards.
This proposed rule has no effect on the existing marking and disposal regulations. It simply excludes PCBs generated in controlled waste manufacturing processes from the section 6(e) ban when ail PCBs generated are handled in ways . prescribed under the existing disposal rule.
2. Regulatory exclusion at SOppm. The PCS Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in Commerce, and Use Prohibition rule, published in the Federal Register of May 31.1979, (44 FR 31514), as Part 761 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations basically
prohibited the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce and use of PCBs in concentrations above 50 ppm in other than a totally enclosed manner. As discussed under the Background unit in this preamble, this exclusion of PCBs in
0756059 TOWOLDMONOQ60212
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Federal Register / VoL 47, Me. 110 / Tuesday, Jane t, 1962 / Proposed Rnlee
concentrations below SO ppm wee
successfully challenged by the
.
Environmental Defenae Fund. The ocwrt
granted a stay of mandate with respect
to the SO ppm cutoff, and persona
manufacturing, processing, distributing.
in commerce and using PCBa in
concentrations below 50 ppm ware
permitted to continue these activities.
The initial stay of mandate waa
scheduled to expire oo October 13,1262.
However. In its report to the court an
uncontrolled PCBs, EPA requested an
extension of this stay of mandats until
December 1.1982. Prior to that time,
EPA intends, to submit a plan to the
court for rulemaking on uncontrolled
PCBs. EPA anticipates that its plan will
include a schedule for rulemaking for
uncontrolled PCBs and a request for an
additional extension of the stay of
mandate until the nilmwking is
completed.
C. Determining Eligibilityfor Bxcluaiom
Persons producing PCBs as impurities
or byproducts in manufacturing
processes need a means of determining
whether they are eligible for this
exclusion. Further, EPA Is naturally
concerned that only processes which
meet the proposed definitions of closed
or controlled waste processes are
permitted to operate unregulated under
section 0(e).
.
To accomplish these objectives H*A is
proposing an amendment to Subpart J
which would require that persons who
produce PCBs and who consider -
themselves eligible for the exclusion
certify that their processes meet EPA's
definition of a dosed or controlled
waste process, Le- PCBa are not
quantifiable in releasee from these
processes (in other than controlled
wastes) by the EPA-spedfied analytical
technique. They would be required to
develop and maintain records an thn
basis for their certification.
Manufacturers are given ths option of
developing a theoretical assessment
which demonstrates this, or of actually
monitoring PCS levels to support
certification. If actual monitoring is
undertaken, those persons are required
to maintain a record of any analytical.
data that they obtain on PCB levels in
the processes at in releases from their
processes. If monitoring is elected, thie
proposed rule does not require that ths .
EPA-spedfied method be used. Any
technique can be used, but the standard
that must be met is still that PCBs are
not quantifiable In releases (except in
controlled wastes) if the Q>A-spedfied
technique were used. This section .
specifies the formet for such a self'
certification and the recordkeeping .
necessary to support this certifiesttoa.
The primary purposes of this self
' stream. EPA will attempt to develop a
certification program are (1) for persona sampling procedure that uses a
to determine if the rule is applicable to sequential sampling schema.
tK<n and (2) to aid EPA in monitoring
This approach should result (n a
compliance. This approach would
considerable savings over standard
provide reasonable assurance that only statistical sampling methods without
prooessee which actually meet thn
adding to the riaks of making incorrect
definitions for exclusion operate
decisions. Sequential sampling is a
unregulated under section 6(e). By being procedure where, unlike other statistical
able to self-certify, industry avoids the methods, tha sample size Is not fixed in
costs of petitioning for exemptions
advance. The sequential sampling
under section a(e).
procedure indicates, after every sample
The self-certification process begins or group of samples Is analyzed,
with compiling data to show that a . whether sufficient samples have been
process meets EPA's definition for
gathered to make a decision or whether
exclusion This may indude actual
additional samples are needed. On the
monitoring of PCB levels in releases, or average, fewer samples are required for
It may oonsist solely of preparing
this procedure than with other methods.
information for use in a theoretical
The sequential sampling scheme used by
assessment EPA considered
EPA will insure that the decision that
establishing rigid requirements for the the level of PCB concentration exceeds a
type of data needed to support a
l quantifiable level will be incorrect for
manufacturer's determination that a
approximately 5 percent of the streams
process Is closed or controlled wests
sampled (95 percent confidence level).
manufactnring process. EPA considered EPA believes that a high level of
requiring monitoring of releases from
confidence is desirable to insure that
processes to air, water, products, and
incorrect decisions that a process should
wastes (of dosed processes). EPA
be excluded from the ban will occur
evaluated tha feasibility of specifying
infrequently. EPA specifically requests
die frequency of sampling and places for comments on the appropriateness of e
samplingJa manufacturing facilities.
9S percent confidence level for this '
EPA determined that it was not
decision.
feasible to develop and propoaa a
Tha guidelines developed by EPA can
detailed monitoring program of bro6d
be used as reference tools by
applicability because of the extrema
manufacturer! when they evaluate their
variability among processes and
processes to determine if they are
manufacturing facilities. Rather, EPA is eligible for exclusion. They will be used
proposing to allow manufacturers to
by EPA in monitoring compliance with
select either theoretical assessments or this rule. EPA expects that the
actual monitoring of PCB levels to " guidelines will be available during the
support certification. EPA intends to
public comment period to this rule. EPA
develop guidelines to assist persons tai intends to announce their availability
the evaluation of manufactnring
through a Federal Register notice.
processes for eligibility under me dosed EPA considered requiring reporting
and controlled waste process exclusion. data to the Agency on a semi-annual or
These guidelines will Identify processes an annual basis. EPA also considered
likely to produce PC35 and specify ths requiring reporting one time with re
types ana nature of data that would be certification being required upon -
considered acceptable to support a
significant process changes. EPA is
determination that a process is dosed or proposing that no reporting be required.
controlled waste process. These
With no requirement to report to EPA
guidelines will address how to prepare a that certain processes qualify for
theoretical assessment es weQ as now exclusion, some processes may be
to conduct actual monitoring of PCB
mislabeled as qualifying for this
levels In releases. In addition, these
exclusion when in reality the
guidelines will describe the type of '
manufacturer should be petitioning for
qualify assurance and quality control
an exemption. To help reduce the
procedure* which should be developed likelihood of this occuring. EPA le
es an integral part of any program which developing an enforcement strategy.
involves actual monitoring of PCB
EPA's enforcement strategy will include
levels.
identifying procesees which are likely to
A determination that PCBa are absent generate PCBa aa impurities and
by actual monitoring of PCB level* must byproducts. EM intends to use the
take into account that statistical
petitions for exemption, among other
variability in analytical results which
sources of information, to identify
will always occur. Recognizing that
generic processes which are likely to
than will be variation results of a series generate PCBe, This information would
at taken from e particular accompany the analytical guidance to
0756060 TOWOLDMON0060213
, Federal Register / VoL 47, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8. 1962 f Proposed Rules
24385
be distributed for this rule. After
controlled waste processes (or petition
developing the enforcement strategy,
for exemption). 11 would require EPA to
EPA will then determine if companies
expend substantial resources reviewing
manufacturing similar products have
die applications for exclusion. By setting
petitioned for exemptions. If petitions
up such an
certification
nave not been submitted by particular procedure, in effect industry and EPA
manufacturers, EPA will examine
would be subject to monitoring,
company records of persons who claim reporting, and reviewing requirements
their processes are closed or controlled similar to those incurred under the
waste processes. Through these means, regular exemption process. One of the
EPA believes it can effectively assure
main reasons for this rule is to relieve
that the exclusion is not being abused. manufacturers and processors of the
With the proposed approach,
burdens imposed by an exemption
manufacturers would identify processes process when the potential exposure to
which they believe generate PCBs as
PCBs from their processes is very low.
impurities or byproducts, determine if
However, this approach would probably
the processes are dosed proceases or
provide the greatest assurance that only
controlled waste processes, end piece
companies that are truly eligible for the
data and records of their determinations exclusion operate unregulated under
in records at tbe facility. Should
section 6(e).
manufacturers periodically undertake
2. No documentation. EPA also
monitoring of PCB levels in processes or considered not requiring recordkeeping
in releases from the processes, these
by manufacturers utilizing what they
data would also be retained. EPA is
consider to be dosed or controlled
proposing to require that such records
waste manufacturing processes. Under
be maintained for seven yean, or for at this alternative, manufacturers would
leaat three yean after the particular
not be required to maintain any records
process being used at die facility ceases of their determinations that processes
operations, whichever is shorter.
operating at their fadlities were closed.
Farther, EPA is proposing to require that or controlled waste manufacturing
processes be reevaluated and that
processes. This alternative eliminates
new certification be filed upon
the costs and burdens associated with
significant process changes that
documenting determinations that
invalidate the previous certification. A processes are dosed or controlled waste
significant process change is one which processes.
'
is likely to change the concentration of
Clearly. with no requirement to ..
PCBs in releases from the prooesees
document determinations that certain
(except in controlled wastes).
processes qualify for exclusion, many
In addition, EPA intends to develop
processes may be automatically labeled
and conduct an audit program to
aa dosed or controlled waste processes
monitor the effectiveness of this rule.
and operate unregulated under section -
The purpose of this program la to
6(e). Further, a large amount of
determine if the rule has accomplished resources would have to be expended
its objectives, and to identify potential by EPA to verify manufacturers claims
areas where revisions or modifications that processes generating PCBs without
are needed.
specific exemptions are dosed or
Other alternatives that EPA
controlled waste processes. This is
. considered but rejected are discussed
because in many cases EPA would have
below.
.
to develop a verification strategy
1. Certification by SPA. Under this
tailored to individual prooesees, and .
alternative, every company desiring to ' there would be no records for EPA to
classify a process as a doted or
review to determine how the company
controlled waste process would be
concluded that it was eligible far the
required to submit theoretical or
exclusion. It would be extremely
analytical data to EPA with a request . difficult for EPA to identify anyone but
for certification aa dosed or controlled tbe most flagrant violator!. It is very .
waste process. After EPA reviewed the likely that companies would not spend
submitted data and the request it would much effort to ensure that they actually
send the company a determination of
met the criteria for exdusion since the
eligibility for exclusion from the
likelihood of being identified as not
requirements of section 6(e) under the dosed and controlled waste process
complying with the rule would be very
mail.
`
exclusion. This approach would be very costly and burdensome to industry and EPA. It would require tbe development
ft. Discussion ofAnalyticalMethodFor Detecting PCBe
of data and submittal of data to EPA
Section 761.82 designates capillary gas
from everyone in the chemical industry chromatography coupled to an electron
and other industries who generate PCBs impact mass spectrometer (CGC/E1MS)
to prove that they are dosed or
at the EPA specified analytical
technique for quantifying PCBs in air emissions, water effiuents and product/ process streams. CGC/EIMS is the analytical technique ipedfied under the
definitions of closed manufacturing process and controlled waste manufacturing process. To qualify for . the closed and controlled waste process exclusion. PCBs must not be
quantifiable by this technique in releases to air, water, and products (and wastes from closed processes). Although actual monitoring of releases is not required as a condition for exclusion (theoretical analyses are acceptable), and this method is not required if monitoring is elected, if actual monitoring is undertaken, manufacturers may wish to use the method specified in f 70182 to insure that they are in compliance with the rule. EPA will use this technique in conjunction with the yet to be published guidelines to determine whether processes are dosed or controlled waste processes.
1. Chemical analytical methodology. . True confirmation of chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in specimens which may contain other chlorinated aromatic compounds can reliably be accomplished by capillary gas chromatography (CGC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). In order to obtain the selectivity to use this analytical technique, specific separation, extraction, and cleanup steps are a necessary part of the chemical analysis process. There are many analytical procedures for separation, extraction, deanup, and detection which can successfully be used to indicate the presence of PCBs. These methods are useful in identifying tbe presence of materials which may require the confirmatory analysis outlined in 176182. For enforcement purposes EPA will use the analytical approach described in 176182.
2. Quality assurance plan for measurement of incidentally generated chlorinated biphenyls (PCBe). An . integral part of CGC/EIMS analysis is the quality assurance program (QAP). QAPs insure the integrity of the data produced.
A QAP includes the following: (1) History and disposition of samples, (2) sampling and sample collection procedures and (3) extraction and instrumental analysis procedures. A QAP documents how a laboratory intends to demonstrate its capability to produce data of acceptable quality. A QAP is essential for establishing the validity of the analytical data generated. For enforcement purposes EPA will use CGC/EIMS in conjunction with a QAP
0756061 TOWOLDMONOQ60214
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Federal Register / VoL 47. No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8, 1982 / Proposed Rules
to verify the accuracy of the data generated.
3. Guidelines. The guidelines EPA is developing will include guidance on: (1) Sample collection and homogenization of the sample, (2) addition of surrogate compounds to the sample, (3) extraction and cleanup, (4) concentration or dilution of the extract (5) analysis of the final extract (B) reporting the results of the chemical analysis as specific PCB isomers or total PCBs, and (7) developing a QAP. Sample collection should be representative of the process to be characterized. Increased variation in the components of the process will increase the necessity to sample more frequently or to composite samples taken concurrently from several locations. The samples will then pass through a decision tree wherej>ertinent procedures in the analytical method will be selected, based on die nature of a specific sample. As an example, for the homogenization step, aqueous samples free of suspended or settled solids would pass on to the extraction step. Aqueous samples with suspended matter would be stirred during subsampling and extraction. Aqueous samples with settled material, which could not be stirred into a suspension, would require pulverization of the solids and then could be treated as the aqueous sample which contained suspended matter. In the guidelines, other portions of the decision tree will be described for non-aqueous samples and for the other steps in analyzing for PCBs.
V. Summary of Issues
EPA specifically requests comments, data, and information relevant to:
1. The data presented in the CMA survey.
2. The appropriateness of excluding closed and controlled waste processes from the section 6(e) ban including EPA's rationale that closed and controlled waste processes pose de minimis risks to public health and the environment; and that the benefits of allowing these processes to be excluded outweigh the de minimis risks posed. .
3. The need to specify criteria far determining the absence of PCBs in products, air emissions, water discharges, and wastes to define adequately processes subject to the exclusion; the desirability of one . criterion for all releases or separata criteria for air, water releases, products, and wastes of closed processes; the suitability of the proposed analytical method for purposes of judging whether a process should be eligible for the exclusion. In particular, EPA seeks Information relating to the effect that the
proposed method would have on
persons involved In the manufacture,
processing, distribution in commerce
and use of PCBs. -
4. The appropriateness of using limits
of quantification versus limits of
detection for defining the absence of '
PCBs in releases from processes.
5. The appropriateness of requiring
controlled wastes to be sent to facilities
In compliance with standards in
S S 791.7a 781.75, and 761.65. In
particular, EPA seeks information
relating to the effect that this
requirement would have on persons
disposing of waste from controlled
waste processes, and on the
environmental/health risks of not
disposing of PCBs in this manner.
6. The need for a program whereby
manufacturers demonstrate that their
processes do qualify for exclusion; the
desirability of a self-certification
program versus one where the
manufacturers report to EPA and the
Agency determines whether they
qualify. In particular, EPA seeks
information relating to the effect that '
self-certification or other programs
would have on persons who
inadvertently manufacture PCBs, and on
the problems or risks associated with
not requiring certification and *
recordkeeping.
7. The suitability of allowing
manufacturers to use best theoretical
analyses in lieu of actual monitoring of
PCB levels. In particular, EPA seeks
information relating to the effect that
requiring monitoring data or theoretical
analyses would have on persons
inadvertently manufacturing PCBs.
8. The retention time for records (7
years or 3 years after a process ceases
operation, whichever is shorter).
9. The coat and economic Impact of
this exclusion policy. Specifically:
a. The costs of EPA's recommended
analytical technique for determining the
absence of PCBs, including sampling
and storage costa.
_
b. The costs of recordkeeping and
reporting which might be required for
eligibility for the exclusion.
e. The availability of testing .
equipment to perform testing in-house
and/or the availability of outside
laboratories to perform tests.
d. The costs to manufacturers of
performing "best theoretical analyses'*
in lieu of actual monitoring of PCB
levels.
e. The costs of incinerating wastes in
EPA-approved incinerators, landfilling .
in EPA-approved landfills, and storage
for incineration or landfilling under this
exclusion. _
f. The costs of Riling for an exemption
petition, including the costs of making
and documenting a "good faith effort to develop substitutes for PCBs" and the
cost of determining and documenting that "no unreasonable risk" exists.
VI Authority a
Section 6(e) of TSCA [15 U.S.C. 2805). The Administrator of EPA has delegated authority to amend or modify the PCB Manufacturing, Processing. Distribution in Commerce and Use Prohibition Rule (4Q CFR Part 761), published in the
Federal Register (44 FR 31514. May 31, 1979), to the Assistant Administrator for Pesticides and Toxic Substances.
VIL Executive Order 12291
Under Executive Order 12291. issued . February 17,1961, EPA must judge whether a rule is a "major rule" and, therefore, subject to the requirement that a Regulatory Impact Analysis be prepared. EPA has determined that this proposed rule is not a major rule as the term is defined in section 1(b) of the Executive Order. Therefore, EPA has not prepared a Regulatory Impact Analysis for this proposed rule.
EPA has concluded that this proposed rule is not "major" under the criteria of section 1(b) because the annual effect of the rule on the economy will be less than 5100 million; it will not cause a ` major increase in costs or prices for any sector of the economy or for any geographic region; and it will apt result in any significant adverse effects on
competition, employment investment productivity, or innovation or on the ability of United States enterprises to compete with foreign enterprises in domestic^ foreign markets. In fact this proposed rule excludes certain uses of PCBs that would otherwise be prohibited by section 6(e) of TSCA and, therefore, reduces the overall costs and economic effect of section 6(e). *
The proposed rule was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget ' (OMB) prior to publication, as required by the Executive Order. Any comments from OMB to EPA and any response by EPA to those comments are available for public inspection as part of the public record of this rulemaking.
Vm Regulatory Flexibility Act
Under section 605(b) of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act. the Administrator may
certify that a rule will not if
promulgated, have a significant impact
on a substantial number of small
entities, and therefore does not require a
regulatory flexibility analysis.,
-
The proposed amendment to the PCB
rule excludes persons who manufacture
PCBs in closed and controlled waste
manufacturing processes from the ban
0756062 TOWOLDMONOQ60215
Federal Register / VbL 47. No. 110 / Tuesday. June B. 1982 / Proposed Roles
24987
on manufacture of PCBs. Pot fi)oe
persons who qualify lor the exclusion,
the effect of this rule Is to avoid the economic impact assodated with the ban. Since no negative economic effect is expected upon any business entity from the promulgation of this proposed rule, I certify that (Us rule will not if
promulgated, have a significant . economic impact on small entities.
IX. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act ofI960, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq (the Act), authorized the Director ofthe OMB to review certain information collection requests by Federal agencies. EPA has determined that die recordkeeping and reporting requirements of this proposed rule constitute a "collection of information," as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(4). In accordance with the Act the recordkeeping and reporting requirements of this proposed rule (if ' adopted in the final nile) will be submitted to OMB under section 3504(b) of the Act
X. Official Rulemaking Record
Proposed PCB Regulations for Closed and Controlled Waste Manufacturing
Processes
In accordance with the requirements of section 19(a)(3)(E) of TSCA. ETA ia publishing the following list of documents constituting the record of this
Sreposed rulemaking. A supplementary at or lists may be published at any time on or before the data the final rule is . issued. However, no such list will include public comments, the transcript of the rulemaking hearing, or ubmissions made at the rulemaking bearing or in connection with it These documents are exempt from Federal Register listing tinder section 19(a)(3). A foil list of these materials will be available on request from the Document Control Officer listed under . "ADMEaspa." -.
A. Previous Rulemaking Records
1. Official Rulemaking Record from "Polychlorinated Blpbeayts (PCBs) Manufacturing. Processing. Distribution in Commerce and Use ftotibMons RtdeT 44 FR 91514. May *1.1979.
2. Official Rulemaking Racoed frees "Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBe) Disposal and Marking Final Regulation"4J FK TUQ, Fabruary 17. 1S7S.
B. Federal Register Notices
1.46 FR 27817. May 2a 1981USEPA .
"Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs);
'
Manufacture of PCBa In Concentrations
Below SO Parts Per MiHiOK Possible
Exclusion From Manufacturing Prohibition:
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking".
2. 46 PR CTO. May 86.wei.PSgA
"Polychlorinated Wpbenyls (PCBs); Court
Oder Regarding PCBs in Concentreticnia .
Below SO tats to Mdbou." -
'
C. Support Documents
1. USEPA. OTS, "Summary ef ANF2
Comments."___
`
2. USEPA. OTS. "Occupational Expomre to
Inadvertency Piudnced PCBs."
.
5. USEPA OTS, "Methods ef Analysis for
Inddentally Generated PCBs Uteiaturo
Review and Preliminary Recomnendabans."
4. USEPA OTS. "Coet Analysis far the
Proposal to Exclude Closed and CnntroUad
Waste Processes from the PCS Ban."
6. USEPA OTS, "Internal Memorandum of
EPA Review of CMA Submitted Toxtdty
Data."
6. USEPA OTS, "Quality Aeoumnua
Gfideline*."
7. USEPA. OT&, nUtioule far Estimating
Level of Quantification for CGC/BdIS."
6. USEPA OTS, "Estimation of Releases
from Spills of Inadvertantly Produced PCBa."
D. Report*
.
1. Otemlcal Manufacturer Association. "A
Report of Survey on the ladderstal
'
Manufacture. Processing. Distribution, and
Use of Polychlorinated Biphenyls at
Concentrations Below SO ppm."
2. Chemical Manufacturers Association.
"The Analysis et Chlorinated Btpbeoyts."
3. Ecology and Environment Incorporated. '
"Summary,of As Health Effects ofPCBa."
ETA will identify the complete
-
rulemaking record on or before the data
of promulgation of the final rule, as
prescribed by section 19(3) of TSCA.
EPA wifi consider for inclusion in the -
record additional material submitted at
any time between thepublication of this
notice and the date the Agency
identifies the final record. The final rule
wUl also permit persons to point out any
omisalons or errors in the record.
XL Additional Information
The comment period for this nde is
limited to thirty days because EPA is
under court order to promulgate a final
rule by October 13,1962.
EPA requests that comments be
submitted in triplicate. Comments ___
should include the docket number, OPTS
62017A. Comments cm this proposed rule
'will be available for review from fcOO
an. to 4:00 pm, Monday through '
Friday, excluding holidays, in Rm.E-107
Environmental Protection Agency, 401M
St, SW,, Washington. D.C.
'
Requests to participate in file Informal
hearing should be made in writing to the
Industry Assistance Offioe et the '
address given above. AO requests for
participation must include, at least,
detailed outline of the topics to be
addressed in the opening statement the
amount of time requested for the
statement and the names of the
participants. Statements should not
repeat information already presented in written comments but should address additional information or issues. All hearings will be conducted in
accordance with EPA's "Procedures for Rulemaking Under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act" (40 CFR.
Pert 750).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 761
Hazardous materials. Labeling. Polychlorinated biphenyls. Recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Environmental protection.
Dated: June 2.1982. Anne M-Gorauch,
Administrator.
Therefore, it ia proposed that 40 CFR Part 781 be amended to read as follows:
PART 761--POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) MANUFACTURING, PROCESSING, DISTRIBUTION IN COMMERCE, AND USE PROHIBITIONS
1. Paragraph (f) is added to { 761.1. to
read as follows:
'
|71.1 RppTeMBty
44 9
(f) Persons who manufacture, process,
distribute in commerce, or use PCBs
generated as byproducts, impurities or
intermediates in closed and controlled
waate manufacturing processes (as
defined in f 781J (jj) and | 761.3 (kk))
are exempt from the requirements of
Subpart B. To qualify for this exclusion,
such processes must also folly comply
with | 781.265.
2. Paragraphs (jj) and (Vk) are added to | 761.3, to read as follows:
1781J DeMMona.
44
4
44
.(jj) "Closed manufacturing process" means a chemical manufacturing process in which PCBs are generated but from which no quantifiable PCBs are released to air. water, products, or in process wastes if the analytical method specified in 1791.82 were used.
(kk) "Controlled waste manufacturing process" means a chemical manufacturing process in which PCBs are generated but from which no quantifiable PCBs are released to air, water, or products if the analytical methods spedfied.in { 781.82 were used, and the remainder of PCBs generated are incinerated in an incinerator approved under the provisions of f 781.70, landfilled in a landfill approved under the provisions of 1761.75, or stored for such incineration or landfilling in accordance with the requirements of 1781.65(b)(1).
0756063 TOWOLDMONOQ60216
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Federal Register / Vol. 47, No. 110 /.Tuesday, June 8, 1982 / Proposed Rules
3. A new Subpart E, consisting at this time of i 781.82, is added to read as follows:
SUBPART E-METHOD OF ANALYSIS
S7S1A3 Analytical method and quay
assurance plan for quantifying PCS* In air,
water, products, and doeed procaas waste
stream*
.
(a) Analytical approach. This section
is the Agency's designated analytical
approach for non-Aroclor PCB analysis
This technique Is the method specified
under the definitions of closed manufacturing process and controlled
waste manufacturing process. Tha
.
approach includes a description of the
analytical technique and a description .
of the necessary quality assurance
program (QAP). This is the analytical
technique and QAP which EPA will use
In determining whether a process falls '
within the closed and controlled wasta
manufacturing process exclusion (see
{7W.t(f)).
-
(b) Analytical technique. (1) A
specified number of samples is taken
according to a suggested procedure.
Each sample, if too large to go directly
to extraction, would be thoroughly homogenized and a representative
subsample would be removed.
(2) Each sample (or subtample from
paragraph (b)(1) of this section) then has
surrogate compounds, e.g,, several **C
PCB isomers, incorporated into 1L These
surrogates are used in quantitation and
to document recovery rates. (3) Each sample is then subjected to
an extraction and/or cleanup procedure.
Through this procedure, the original
ample would have any contaminants
.and interfering compounds removed from it and ideally an extract with only
PCBs would remain. The extraction
procedure would vary for different
media (air. water, solid) and matrix . (chlorinated, non-chlorinated. etc.).
(4) Each sample extract would be concentrated or diluted to a known
volume. This known volume is used in
the quantitation procedure. (5) A known amount of the prepared
extract is then removed and introduced
into a capillary gaa chromatograph
(CGC) coupled to an electron impact mass spectrometer (EM1S).
(6) The instrumental response is then integrated ao that the levels are
described by PCB homolog (mono-, dl-,
and trichlorobiphenyls, etc.) and each
PCB bomolog is quantitated based on .
the known responses of the **0
.
surrogates (see paragraph (b)(2) of this
section).
.
(7) All 10 homolog concentrations are
then summed to obtain a "total PCB"
value.
(c) Quality assurance program. A
quality assurance program includes:
(1) An accurate trace or history of tha
life of a sample (to be chemically
analyzed for PCBs) including a
description of the scheme for sample
collection including a written
description of what happens to the
sample, schedules and timetables, .
disposition and handling.
(2) Details of the sample collection
procedure including
(1) Reasons for using a particular
sample selection process and reasons
for not using other processes.
(il) Estimates of now Well the selected
samples represent the medium to be
characterized.
(3) A full, detailed description of the
extraction and chemical analysis
procedures.
(4) The results of laboratory
participation In round robin analytical
programs, the results of performance .
audits, the results of systems audits, and
analytical results of performance audit
specimens.
4. Section 781.185 Is added to read as
follows:
1781.184 9eW carUftcation program and
retention o4 special records by persons VKNWnliy QOnOTwlQ rvM vl 009VQ
maoutec Itsloq processes ird controdad wests manufacturing processes. '
(a) In addition to meeting the basic
requirements of 1781.1(f), PCB-
genereting chemical manufacturing
processes shall be considered "dosed
manufacturing processes*" or
"controlled waste manufacturing
processes" (and thus, be exduded from
the TSCA section 8(e) ban on
manufacture), only if the owner/
operator of the facility: (1) Collects data
on the process and performs either a
theoretical analysis of PCB levels in
releases or conducts actual sampling of
PCB levels In releases.
(2) Maintains (for a'period of 7 years
or for 3 yean after a process ceases
operations, whichever is shorter) the
following information on the processes:
(1) Theoretical analysis (A) The
reaction or reactions believed to be .
producing the PCBe and Ievela of PCBa
generated.
__(B) The basis for all estimations of
PCB concentrations.
'
(C) The name and qualifications of the
person or persona performing the
theoretical analysis. .
(D) Any additional information
relevant to the analysis of the process
for PCBs.
(il) Actualmonitoring. (A) The method
of analysis.
.
(B) The results of the analysis,
Including data from the QAP.
(C) The name of the analyst or
analysts.
(D) The date and time.of the analysis.
(E) Any additional information
relevant to the analysis of the process
for PCBs.
.
(b) The date collected, and the
analysts performed under paragraph (a)
of this section must support the
following certification if the processes
are to be exduded under the closed
manufacturing process and controlled
waste manufacturing process exdusion.
Persons desiring exclusion of a PCB-
genera ting process under tbe dosed and
controlled waste process exdusion shall
certify that
(1) An analysis of the manufacturing
process for PCB levels and releases
(either theoretical or through actual
monitoring for PCBs) has been
completed.
. ..
(2) The analysis of tbe manufacturing
process is on record at the facility.
(3) If the analytical method specified
in 1761.82 were used, PCBs could not be
quantified In air releases and water
releases from the manufacturing
process, or in products ol the
manufacturing process.
(4) (i) If the analytical method
specified in | 781.82 were used, PCBs
would be below tbe limits of
quantification in process wastes.
(ii) All process wastes are either
incinerated in accordance with { 781.70,
landfilled in a landfill approved tinder
i 781.75, or stored for such incineration
or landfilling in accordance with the
requirements of f 781.85(b)(1).
(c) The certification must indude the
name and location of the disposal
facilities (if the process is a controlled
waste process^ The certification must
be signed by a responsible corporate
officer. For the purpose of this section, a
responsible corporate officer means: (i)
A president, secretary, treasurer, or vice
president of the corporation in charge of
a principal business function, or any
other person who performs siiftilar
policy or decision-making functions for
the corporation.
(ii) The manager of one or more
manufacturing, production, or operating
facilities employing more than 250
persons or having gross annual sales or
expenditures exceeding $25,000,000 (in
second quarter 1980 dollars), if authority
to sign documents has been assigned or
delegated to the manager in accordance
with corporate procedures. This
certification process must be repeated
whenever process conditions are
significantly modified to make the
previous certification no longer valid.
This certification must be filed at each
^facility in which a dosed or controlled
0756064
TOWOLDMONOQ60217
Federal Register / Vol. 47, No. 110 / Taeeday, Jane & 3982 / Proposed Rules
waste process is operating for a period
of seven yean or for three yean after a
process ceases operation, whichever is
shorter, and must be made available to
EPA upon request
(d) Any person signing a document
under paragraph (b) (1) through (4) of
this section shall also make the
.
following certification:
'
1 certify under penalty of law that this
document and all attachments were prepared
under my direction or supervision in
accordance with a system designed to assure
that qualified personnel properly gather and
evaluate informstion. Based on my Inquiry of
the person or persons who manage the
system, or those person.directly responsible
for gathering information, the information is. *
to the best of my knowledge and belie! true,
eccurate, and complete. I am aware that there
are significant penalties tor falsifying .
information, including the possibility of fines v
and Imprisonment for knowing violations.
Dated:*
-- .
Signature ----------------------------- -
--
|ntOae.ss-tsassnMs-r-ankasa|
.
24989
0756065 TOWOLDMONOQ60218